The Mom In Me: My Kids Are Creative Geniuses (Now with pictures!)

This week has been one of uber-creativity for my kids. It’s spirit week at their school and Max’s grade is doing the holiday play.

Spirit week entails a different type of dress for each day. Tomorrow is crazy hair day or hat day. Chilihead, Jr. asked me this morning if we could make her hair into a sunshine by putting pony tails in a half-circle around her head. In other words, we’ll have pony tails/dog ears going from one side of her head, over the top of her head, and ending at the other side. I know I’m her mom, but WOW! What an excellent idea. Max, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with crazy hair day. There will be no colored stripe on his buzz cut (even though I’ve pleaded with him to do it just this once). That boy wants no part of it.

Chilihead, Jr.’s hair:

Speaking of Max, his holiday play is tonight. He is part of the chorus and therefore was assigned to be a toy. He was to come up with a costume that made him look like a toy. (This is where you insert Woody saying, "YOU.  ARE.  A.  TOY!!!") Of course, I offered to help him with this costume and fully expected he take me up on the offer. He did not. My son decided to make the costume himself and could not be swayed.

The costume he wanted to make was that of a Lego. My only role was to find and buy a blue t-shirt that was the color of a Lego. Easy enough: I went to Hobby Lobby (such a chore, I tell you–not). Over the next few days I begged and pleaded with Max to let me help him with his costume. I had grand ideas that involved batting, paint, and 3-D. Nope. Max was adamant I not help.

I was worried. Why? Not because I thought Max would fail or couldn’t do it. No. I was worried because I knew I’d be the only mom who didn’t make their child’s costume. I was sure to be labeled the slacker mom. The mom who wouldn’t pitch in to make the show as polished as possible. The mom who was too busy to help make a simple costume for her child’s holiday play.

You know what? I’m not worried any more. Max made the most phenomenol Lego t-shirt ever seen. He was so proud of the way it turned out that he ran into my bedroom and showed it to me. The look on his face said it all: *I* did it. And he did. And I couldn’t care less what those other moms think. My boy is independent and creative. I’ll take that over my reputation at school any day.

(I’d have pictures to show you, but he’s wearing the shirt today for their assembly. I’ll try to post some later this week.)

Tagged as: childhood independence, creative hairstyles, holiday play, mothering